VANCOUVER REGIONAL FREENET ASSOCIATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MINUTES OF MEETINGS
November 2, 1993
Vancouver Public Library
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm.
Present: Gladys We, Guy Thomas, Jacqueline Van Dyk, Steven Chan,
Susan
Pendakur, Fritz Radandt, Margaret Coates, Phil Lyons,
Greg Buss, Tom
Hansen, Brain Campbell, Eric Yung, Mike Hrybyk, Mike
Lehmann
1. Agenda - approved
2. Minutes from October 5, 1993.
Approved with modification that: 1) Hardware/Software group
include Jacqueline's name and 2) the 411 Senior's Society, not
the ALS Society, has not yet officially endorsed the Freenet.
Moved to accept minutes by Margaret, seconded by Gladys,
unanimous vote.
3. Policy Issues
3.1 Direction of Hardware/Software - Mike and Jacqueline
* To date, work has been done to compile and configure the new
system. This has
mostly been done. Work includes the BBS and conferencing
systems. * George Lindholm has implemented the news service on
poplar and installed a newsreader
with one sample newsgroup "freenet.sysdesign". * The mail
system (and pine's configuration) has been assigned to Tom Dzubin
but is not yet operational. * The PMDB (Poor Man's Database)
system has been assigned to Gary Chan for
use in user information and is under construction. * pager
program recieved from Carleton * Vic Vaivads is working on
automation of creating accounts and getting
members signed up. * John Jay Tanlimco is working on getting
the editors and pagers compiled and
integrated. * First Class and CIX available and mentioned in
regards to small FreeNets.
Concerns were raised about the lack of a concrete test plan as
well as upgrading Freeport software if we over-customize the
Freeport code. Mike (Hrybyk) stated that most of the
customization is in the end utilities and should not affect
upgrade of code at this point. Additional concerns were raised by
Steven and Jacqueline about documentation of the features and
possibly forming a working group to compile a features list.
Steven suggested that we look at the test plan as well as start
listing the tasks to be done and our future goals. Brian
suggested that this be forwarded to the Hardware/Software/System
Design meeting on Sat. Nov. 6 and be reported back to the board
at the next board meeting.
3.2 Freenet menu - Jacqueline
A general level of dissatisfaction was expressed by various
people about the current state of the menus. Although most agree
that it follows a logical structure, more work seems to need to
be done. Mike (Hrybyk) suggested that in implmentation of the
Gopher menus at UBC, they put up several menu sets, and Guy asked
that if possible previously discussed menu sets be made available
for discussion. Susan mentioned that under "About Freenet..."
that Brian's name not be present for "further information".
Another menu item suggested on the main menu was a "hot topics"
option, possibly based on traffic flow.
Action: repost of the menu structure to the mailing lists by
Jacqueline and solicit input and then report back to the board at
the next Board meeting.
3.3 Hardware Site - Brian and Mike
Unfortunately, letters to a variety of sites were not sent out.
Brian personally mailed UBC and SFU. UBC has expressed an
interest.
Motion: (Tom Hanson/Jacqueline Van Dyk) That Brian Campbell be
allowed to move forward and accept the UBC site offer in
principle. PASSED.
It was asked however, that minutes of the two meetings between
Mike/Brian and UBC administration be posted, and that any work
carried out be posted and discussed before the board. Monetary
issues involve mostly phone lines/modem banks as UBC would not
provide anything requiring "incremental expenses".
3.4 Equal Access Proposal - Margaret and Steven
A proposal was made by the Taskforce for Equal Access and was
distributed to the board members.
* General concern for monetary levels and for possible
'splitting' of fundraising initiatives between the core project
of getting FreeNet running, and the Taskforce proposals.
Motion: (Greg Buss/Margaret Coates) that Steven and Margaret, in
conjunction with the Commmunity Content committee and Greg, flesh
out the proposal and present back to the board as soon as
possible. PASSED.
3.5 Board membership
* Gladys resigns as of Dec. 1/93. * a decision was made
previously that no general membership meeting would be
carried out due to limited resources. * general postings to
the mailings lists indicating that Board positions are
availble was suggested.
Motion: (Tom Hansen/Greg Buss) That names of candidates be sent
to Brian (via e-mail or otherwise) to be presented to the board
at the next board meeting for voting. PASSED.
3.6 Municipal Candidates
* suggestion that information packages go out only to the
municipal
governments after the election due to the large number of
candidates.
3.7 BC Freenet organization - Brian
* there is to be a meeting on Sat. Nov 20/93 (night of
conference) about this. * it was agreed that all members of
Boards or organizing committees would be
invited, but it would not be open to everyone.
Motion: (Greg Buss/unanimous second) That the meeting go ahead on
November 20/93 and that each freenet be given one vote in all
voting matters. PASSED.
3.8 Canadian Freenet organization - Brian
* Brian and David Sutherland from NCF to meet and start setup of
a Canadian
Freenet organization based on the formed Freenet organizations.
Issue: Should the the organization only be based on Freenets
(initially as registered with NPTN, and subsequently registered
with the Canadian Freenet organization) or should it be based on
"community telecommunications" etc.
* Issue to be discussed further as information is provided and
further
discussion with David Sutherland by Brian is continued.
4. Treasurer's report - Tom
* To date, $2,988.49 in account * we have been turned down by
Ottawa for our non-profit, tax deduction number. * investigating
possibly a collaboration with an existing non-profit
organization to use their tax number * NCF is organizing court
case against the ruling, and we may want to file for
interventor status. * Federal contact might be made by people
with MP connections
(Eric/Gladys/Susan)
Motion: (Tom Hansen/Margaret Coates) That the treasurer's report
be accepted and we all Tom to move forward in investigating our
options in getting a tax number. PASSED.
5. Membership - Susan
Membership totals were presented. To date 162 members have been
signed up.
Motion: (Susan Pendakur/Phil Lyons) That the membership report be
accepted. PASSED.
6. Taskforce for Equal Access
No further comments
7. Endorsemen Co-ordinator - Phil
* Thus far 20 organizations have endorsed VRFA, but only 6 have
committed money
to us. * suggestion to post lists of the organizations in the
VRFA FAQ (maintained by
Fritz).
8. Committee reports:
8.1 Community Content committee - Guy
* content guide being worked on (need comments from everyone) * 3
IPs identified for initial testing of information upload. These
are:
VRFA, The Native Education Centre, and the Association for
Promotion and
Advancement of Science Education.
8.2 Fundraising - Greg
* case statement finished by Gladys (need comments from everyone)
* some minor changes/layout changes to be done on case statement
* letterhead and VRFA newsletter was donated in kind. *
Fundraising has split into subcommittees such as Steven's for
hardware
acquisition. * Brian suggested that we look into Vancity, and
putting terminals into their
branches and having them sponsor a community terminal.
8.3 Public Relations - Fritz
* next public information meeting is at the Newton Library on
Wed. Nov 3/93 at
7:00pm - Brian is not speaking at this meeting.
Motion: (Fritz Radandt/Margaret Coates) That 200 buttons be made
for VRFA at a cost of $0.55/button or $110. Addendum by Tom that
Fritz be reimburst the $25 initial outlay for buttons created to
date. Motion and addendum PASSED.
* Note that we should be looking into machinery to make our own
buttons in the
long term. * newsletter has been put out * comments on
possibility of making our own educational video (proposal handed
out to board members) - deferred to next meeting, require more
information
from Fritz about the members working on the video.
8.4 Hardware/Software/System Design - Mike and Jacqueline
* new password for dial-in to poplar [password not posted to
list, please ask
Mike for it if you don't have it and need it]. * for those
that haven't signed on in a while, please sign on and clear your
incoming mail folders. * please sign on in the near future and
change your passwords! * Mike has contacted Sun and they are
expediting the process * Mike has talked to David Sutherland and
Andrew Patrick of NCF about possibly
re-writing the Freeport code and possibly getting funding (from
CANARIE?) for
it. It was the general feeling of the board that we should
assist in this,
and put together a Canada-wide proposal to assist in getting
funding.
9. Information Policy Conference - Jacqueline and Gladys
* We have 53 members signed up so far, and are on target for the
conference.
10. Other business
* next meeting on Tues. Nov. 16/93 at 7:00pm at VPL boardroom
Move to adjourn, seconded and passed unanimously at 10:30pm.